Call for Applications for fund managers targeting water and sanitation
Are you ready to drive impact in water and sanitation through impact finance?
Aqua for All, in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) launches an open call for applications under their programme “Driving Impact through Innovative Financing.”
This joint programme addresses the service and finance gaps in the water and sanitation sector across Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Lower- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), contributing directly the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) – ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
We are calling on impact-driven funds to apply for one of the following investment tracks:
A. Catalytic Investment in Funds
B. Result-Based Financing (RBF) Facility
Both tracks can be backed by Technical Assistance to maximise impact and enhance long-term sustainability.
Funding tracks
Track A: Catalytic investment in Funds
This track targets funds investing in water and sanitation. Aqua for All will provide risk capital (e.g., first-loss equity) to help de-risk investments and attract private sector financing.
Support includes:
- Direct investment into the fund to mobilise private capital participation.
- Technical assistance for fund managers and/or investees.
- Participation in knowledge-sharing and visibility activities.
Objectives:
- Mobilise private capital for water and sanitation (Aqua for All targets a 6x leverage of its invested capital)
- Strengthen fund capacity in impact measurement and management (IMM), gender and climate strategies.
- Enable scalable and sustainable investments in water and sanitation.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be a legally registered investment fund or fund manager.
- Have a clear mandate to invest in water and sanitation.
- Operate in emerging markets and developing countries, specifically in LDCs or LMICs.
- Demonstrate potential to leverage Aqua for All’s investment to mobilise private capital.
- Commit to impact measurement and gender/climate integration.
Track B: Result-Based Financing (RBF) Facility
This track supports the design and implementation of performance-based incentives for investees within a fund’s portfolio.
Support includes:
- Funding for incentive payments and impact verification.
- Technical assistance to structure and manage the RBF facility.
- Alignment with SDG 6 and climate/gender outcomes.
Objectives:
- Reward measurable impact in water and sanitation service delivery.
- Encourage innovation and accountability.
- Strengthen the ecosystem for results-driven finance.
Eligible applicants must:
- Be an investment fund or financial intermediary with active water and sanitation investments.
- Have the capacity to manage and disburse performance-based incentives.
- Propose a results framework aligned with SDG 6.
- Commit to independent impact verification.
- Be open to technical assistance and knowledge sharing.
Next steps
Are you ready to invest in transformative impact finance solutions in the water and sanitation sector?
We invite you to apply via the link below. The deadline for submissions is Thursday, 31 July 2025.
Ready to apply? Click the link below or use the button on the left at the bottom to get started!
Submit your application
Selected applicants will be invited to an introductory meeting during the first half of August. This will be followed by the submission of a detailed proposal (‘long application form’) and a second round of interviews.
Final selection of the fund(s) progressing to the due diligence phase is expected in early October, with final approval anticipated by December 2025.
For any questions or clarifications, please contact Aqua for All’s Impact Finance Team: IF@aquaforall.org
Review the Frequently Asked Questions and Application Form items to prepare for completing the Typeform below.